SAFETY NET - JINTS MAY BE TARGETING MIAMI'S PHILLIPS IN DRAFT

April 22, 2008 -- One well-connected player agent recently spoke with three teams heading into this weekend's NFL Draft. All three compiled a mock draft to get a better feel for who might go where and all three had the Giants with the 31st overall pick taking Miami safety Kenny Phillips.

Intrigued, the agent fished around a little more, as these teams might have merely been going with the rote formula that the Giants lost a safety (Gibril Wilson) in free agency and, despite signing veteran Sammy Knight, need to add another one.

The scent remained strong. "I heard Kenny Phillips is the guy they're targeting," the agent said.

Could be. It is rare when a team can sit back until the very last pick of the first round and land the top player at his position, but that would be the case if the Giants nab Phillips. In virtually every publication or ranking, Phillips is listed as the top-rated safety available in the draft and that he is coming out of college after his junior year makes him more attractive.

Adding Phillips certainly makes sense, as he could learn the ropes for a season and contribute in sub-packages and special teams as a rookie and in 2009 step in full-time for Knight. Or, he could come to his first training camp and battle his way past Knight or James Butler for a starting job.

There is much to like about Phillips, starting with his size (6-foot-2, 212), pedigree and his air-tight resume. What hurts him is that the once-renowned Miami program sagged around him and that he is not considered in the same class as former Hurricanes safeties like Ed Reed, Sean Taylor and Brandon Meriweather. Those three all won All-American honors, as did Phillips. Late in the first round or early in the second is the anticipated spot for Phillips to hear his name called and that's exactly where the Giants sit.

If the Giants want to wait until the second round to land a safety, they could have their pick of Tyrell Johnson of Arkansas State or DaJuan Morgan of North Carolina State. The Giants brought Johnson in for a visit and he is an excellent small-school prospect whose stock soared after he wowed scouts at the Combine, finishing first among all safeties in the bench press (225 pounds 27 times) and broad jump, and ran a more-than-respectable 4.44. He's an in-the-box safety who often did not face top competition but did excel when he played against Texas and Tennessee.

Or, the Giants might feel secure that Knight, a 12-year veteran who turns 33 in September, can handle the job.

"I think I have a lot left," Knight said. "I haven't missed any games, I haven't had any major injuries, I led my team in tackles last year, second in interceptions, I've been really productive. It's not a matter of me being on my last leg or being banged up."

(newyorkpost.com)